The Bampton Beam used to be produced and given to every household three times a year. This issue is from April 1997. Articles covered and advertisers are:-

BAMPTON BEAM APRIL 1997
ARTICLES AND NOTICES
Yes To The Pavilion – vote on plans to build a pavilion for the Bampton Recreation Ground has come out strongly in favour of the scheme
Geoffrey and Joan Fowler – a personal tribute by Dor Thompson
Bampton Village Hall – redecoration and annual spring clean
Images of Bampton – all 700 copies were sold by Christmas
The news from Bampton 100 years ago – extracts from The Faringdon Advertizer selected by Simon Garrett
Bampton Bill by Andy– cartoon
33 years a Bampton fireman by Fenella Gray - retirement of Sub-Officer Tom Papworth
Society for the Protection of Bampton
Aston Pottery – Jane and Stephen Baughan
Before Bampton – the emerging story by John Blair. The Bampton Research Project
The Beam in the 50’s by Kate Wylie
The Base in the Bush – an introduction to our RAF Station by the new Officer Commanding Squadron Leader M P Aleandri
What do 81 Signals Unit get up to in Bampton?
The Story of Lavender Place
Meals on Wheels comes of age by Jean Howell
Thames Valley Police by Constable Phil Bennett
The Recreation Ground
Bampton under 9’s football team
Bampton Boys Football Club
Bampton Tennis Club
Golf practice
Archery
Bampton-in-the-Bush Cricket Club
Witney and District Carers Club
West Oxfordshire Citizen Advocacy
Oxford Rural Community Council
Business Link
Foxbury Farm
Society for the Protection of Bampton
The Burford Singers
Bampton Parish Council
Latest on the Appraisal
“Cheers! here’s to Bob and Ursula Booth” – retirement after more than ten years at the Romany Inn
Bampton Pumpkin Club
Bampton Welfare Trust
The Royal British Legion Women’s Section
Bampton Environmental Watch Group
Cancer Research Campaign
Women’s Institute
Bampton Youth Club
What’s Been and What’s to Come? Events
Bampton Conservative Association Burns Night Supper
Bampton Gardening Club – list of trips, outings etc.
The S.P.A.J.E.R.s – events
May Garlands
Morris Dancers
Architecture around Bampton, written and drawn by Gilbert Marsh
Millennium Celebrations – Monuments or ?
Letters to the Editor
Out of Work Farmer Turned Agricultural Correspondent by Don Rouse
Letters to Auntie Beam
Bampton Summer Opera – Don Giovanni by Guiseppe Gazzianiga
Bye Bye to Ray the Bus and Hola Pepe - Number 19 bus drivers
West Oxfordshire Arts Association News and Events
Highlights of the Past Calendar by Margaret Bruce-Mitford
News of Members and Future Plans
Announcement of the death of Frances Denne, Arts Co-ordinator
New Chairman of Parish Council – David Hawkins
Spring is in the air – by Christine Pope
The Beam’s pet choice – Cats by Linda Mills
A Tribute to Miss Hobbs by Fenella Gray
Campanologists celebrate 50 years - Graham Taylor and Terry Rouse. Ted Dixey reached his 50th jubilee in 1995
The Food Page by Gilly French
The Crossword
Directory of Forthcoming Events
Bampton Directory 1997

LIST OF ADVERTIZERS
Philippa Rayne, osteopath, Lesley Mellin, reflexologist and aromatherapist and Fiona Geary, physiotherapist
Adrian Dunsby, carpenter
Grey Gables Garage
Curtain Choice
The Trout at Tadpole Bridge
Bampton Fax Bureau at Emmie’s Newsagents
Danetree Veterinary Surgeons
Castle Wines
Community Care
CSW Picture Framers
The Appliance Doctor
N Woodley, Building Maintenance
Market Square Garage
Burford Computer Centre
E Taylor & Son, funeral directors
J Temple, Hardware, DIY, Fancy Goods and Toys
Andrew Bowman, Master Thatcher
Bubbles dog grooming
CTG “What is Love” - An evening of music, song and verse
The Pitstop motoring service and Oxford Carb Services
Chennells hairdressers
Secretarial Services – S Garrett
Farmington Stone
Carterton open air heated swimming pools
A Simmonds, the old-fashioned village store
Electric Vehicles Ltd
The Romany Inn
Abbey Properties, estate agents
R Cooper, builders, painters, carpentry, joinery, specialists in dry stone walling

The Friends of St Mary's have recently been arranging a series of 3 talks, one in Feb, March and April to raise funds for the church. This poster was for the Feb 2018 talk entitled
"The Graveyard Shift: surgery and body snatching at Guy's Hospital in the 19th century."
The talk was given by Professor Roger Jones.

Vera Elward was 92 when she flew in a microlight to help raise funds for the restoration and enhancement of the organ in Saint Mary The Virgin Church in Bampton. Vera always gave much of her time and love for the church. She ran the Sunday school for about 20 years and would gather the children from their houses as she walked to the Sunday School class. She died peacefully at home on April 9th 2020

A bird was found to have made its nest inside the letterbox at Bampton and Brize Norton Railway station by Mrs Emmie Papworth who along with Mr F G Cannons was a post lady in Bampton about 1960. It was thought to be a member of the tit family and was disturbed only once while the eggs were being hatched.

This picture is of Bell Cottage which was visible briefly across the Market Square after Market Square Garage was completely removed and before Thornberry Flats were built on the site. The people living in the cottage at the time couldn't wait for the flats to go up to regain their privacy.
The little lane, known by long-time locals as 'Back of The Bell' got its name from the Bell Inn which used to be where the Village Hall stands today. The Inn was bought by three ladies in 1923 for conversion into the WI Hall. In the 1980s the WI could no longer afford the upkeep of the building and it became the Village Hall ... next to the Town Hall.

This article is about the AGM of the Bampton with Clanfield and Aston, Lew and Shifford church AGM. The vicar was Rev. Andrew Scott and this was his first year here. Alan Keef was elected secretary. Hilda Pickard was electoral roll keeper, Tim Bryce was treasurer and reported a 40% increase in parish share. A report of the diocesan synod was given by Ruby Riches and of the Mothers' Union by Mrs Betty Cooper.
Churchwardens elected were
Aston - Mr P Hook and Mr A Keef
Bampton - Mrs Hilda Pickard and Mr Norman Gregory
Clanfield - Mr P Horne and Mr Fred Farmer
Lew - Mr Charles Radclyffe and Mrs Olive Gush
Shifford - Mrs Betty Cooper and Mr Tim Bryce.

This picture shows the spire of St Mary The Virgin Church in Bampton seen across Sandford field. It was taken early in the twentieth century. Today, a hedge obscures the view of the houses in the foreground but not all still exist.

A few photographs taken of the Bampton Traditional Morris Men dancing on Spring Bank Holiday in 2003.
Musician Reg Hall
Dancers Jonny Shuker, Toby Perry, Cyril Smith, Billy Main and Martin Landray. Ray Borrett the fool dancing the fool's jig.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend at Whitsun 1985. Ian Baker and Ivan Lomas won the fancy dress competition held prior to the Shirt Race. Reg Hall enjoyed a pint between playing on the Monday. Terry Rouse danced in as the fool outside the Horse Shoe.